The boy stood up now, very interested, and got closer.
“Is the tree house still there?”
There was no point in telling him we had long since moved, but I wasn’t telling a lie to say the tree house still stood.
“Yeah it’s still there, she just doesn’t play in it anymore.”
We both laughed and the answer seemed to please him even more as he knelt down to pet the pup that was still very much not into doing tricks.
“Could I be your son?”
I heard him all right, but needed to stall.
“What?”
He knew I heard him the first time, but he played along.
“Could I be your son? My Momma left and I’m with auntie and I need a mother.”
Whew. Panic. The boy did not notice my pale shock.
“I’m gonna go ask her.”
I was shouting into the wind
“Who?”
“Auntie.”
